I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 81

“Hmm…” 

The choice had to be made carefully. 

I squinted and compared the two dresses. 

One was a light blue dress, a shade more profound than the sky but lighter than the sea, with delicate, wave-like pleats. This dress was elegant and seemed like it would provide a refreshing and cool feeling. 

Considering the royal hunting event would likely have clear weather and be held outdoors, where it might be slightly warm, this dress would be a perfect choice for that day and location. 

The other was a vibrant red dress, more suitable for a ball than a hunting event. However, wearing such a striking dress would surely draw everyone’s attention. Moreover, the fuller skirt, with its abundant pleats, would make it easier to hide a pocket for the book. 

“Having a hard time choosing?” 

Panya, who had been watching me, squinted her eyes and looked at the dresses with me, mimicking my contemplation. 

It was clear she noticed my dilemma. 

“Panya.” 

“Yes! I’ve made my decision!” 

Panya clenched her fist and looked at me confidently. 

“What did you decide?” 

“I cast my vote for the red dress.” 

I looked back at the dresses. They were two very different styles. 

“Because you looked absolutely beautiful in a red dress before.” 

“Really?” 

“Yes!” 

Panya nodded enthusiastically, pleased that I was considering her opinion. 

“Shall I wrap up the red one?” 

“No.” 

Panya, who had been about to grab the red dress, paused and looked at me. 

“No? Are you going for the blue one?” 

“Get both.” 

“B-both?” 

“Yes. I’ll wear both.” 

There was no need to choose between two entirely different options. I would buy both and wear both. 

“Are you planning to change outfits during the hunting event?” 

“No. I’ll wear one and save the other for another occasion.” 

I spoke as if it were nothing, though my lips trembled slightly. 

“There will be balls, tea parties, and plenty of opportunities to wear them.” 

If I survive the hunting event, 

I swallowed the unspoken words. The words that flowed down my throat left a bitter taste. 

“And let them know that some alterations are needed.”

“What kind of alterations?”

Panya, who had seen enough of my shopping trips to know that dresses off the mannequin usually fit me perfectly, looked puzzled. 

“I need a pocket sewn inside the dress.” 

“A pocket?” 

Panya’s confusion deepened. I understood her perplexity. 

I never carried anything around. At most, I’d have small cosmetics in a petite handbag, to the extent of what noble ladies carried. These handbags were more accessories than functional items, chosen to match the day’s beautiful dress. 

It made sense that Panya would find it strange for me to want a pocket sewn into a dress for practical reasons. 

The usual handbags were too small for the book. Carrying the book openly at the hunting event would be out of place and draw unnecessary attention. 

That book was crucial for me. It was my weapon to survive the machinations of whoever or whatever force was toying with me.

The only way to carry the book discreetly was to have an unseen pocket in the dress.

“Just tell them it’s necessary. Make sure they know it must be perfectly hidden and ask if it’s possible with both dresses.”

“What size should the pocket be?” 

“About this big?” 

I roughly estimated the size of the book with my hands, making the pocket slightly larger to be safe. 

“That big?” 

Panya’s eyes grew even wider. 

“Yes.”

I responded firmly and gave her a look to stop further questions. 

“Understood.” 

Panya, quick to catch on, nodded and called over the staff, telling them I would take both dresses. 

The sales assistant, delighted to sell two high-end dresses at once, praised my excellent taste, saying it would have been a shame to miss out on either dress. 

While Panya took care of the purchase, I relaxed on the sofa, but my mind raced with thoughts. 

The hunting event was just days away: the threat of poison, Ricardo, Maria, and the Viscount Wensbury. 

“Should I just be careful with the cookies? ” 

According to the current state of the book, I was to be poisoned while the participants were out hunting, with other ladies and nobles waiting for their return. The Viscount, participating in the hunt, planned to kill me in his absence. 

I didn’t know who he enlisted for the task, but according to the book, I would eat a poisoned cookie with a substance called paladin and die. Ricardo would return just in time to see me collapse, blood spilling from my mouth. 

“I won’t just die without a fight.” 

Shaking my head, I steeled myself with determination. 

The book had already reached its midpoint, and the royal hunting competition was the pivotal event marking that transition. 

In the previous version, it was the villainess Bianca attempting to poison Maria, while in this version, the sinister Viscount Wensbury was plotting to poison Bianca. It was the backdrop for a critical incident. 

In novels, major events usually occur on significant days. 

“Did you hear that rumor?” 

A whispering voice suddenly came from behind. I had been so deep in thought that I didn’t notice other customers had arrived. 

“Apparently, Lady Bianca is infertile.” 

I was about to rise and greet them, thinking I might recognize someone, but hearing my name stopped me cold. 

“Oh my, are you talking about Lady Bianca?” 

“Yes, that Lady Bianca!” 

“My goodness! What will happen to her engagement to the Winkaiser family?” 

“Of course, it will be called off. How can an infertile woman become a duchess? What kind of family is the Winkaiser family? They wouldn’t take in a woman who can’t produce an heir.” 

“Well, that makes sense. She won’t be able to marry into the Winkaiser family or any other.” 

“Right. Unless it’s a ruined noble family looking for support from the Croft family, if they’re on the brink of starvation, they might marry her regardless of lineage or heirs.” 

“Oh, how dreadful. If it were me, I’d just stay single forever.” 

“Well, being single isn’t so bad. She can live a glamorous life until her beauty fades.” 

“You’re so naughty. Are you saying it’s over once she fades?” 

“Oh my, is that how it sounds?” 

Then came the laughter. 

Where did this rumor originate? It couldn’t have come from the Croft family, and certainly not from Ricardo… 

‘This too must be the work of the Viscount Wensbury.’ 

I realized it was another one of his schemes to tarnish my reputation, a form of revenge for daring to oppose him, and to further distance me from the position of being a duchess.

The ladies who quickly latched onto the rumor spread by Viscount Wensbury were delighting in gossiping about me, unabashedly speculating about my future. 

“My lady, about what you mentioned earlier, they said that while it would be difficult to discreetly add the pocket to the blue dress, it can be done seamlessly on the red dress.” 

“Really? Then let’s do that.” 

As my voice was heard, the murmuring behind me instantly fell silent. In the chilly quiet, I slowly stood up. 

There were gasps and exclamations of “Oh my!” from behind. Using their startled reactions as background music, I gracefully turned to face them. 

“Hello, Lady Middleton, Lady Berg, Lady Noel, and Lady Heidegg.” 

With a gentle and elegant smile, I greeted them whose complexions were pale. 

“Oh, hello. We didn’t realize you were here, my lady.” 

Lady Berg responded with a slightly stammering voice. It was unexpected; usually, they greet in order of rank, so I thought Lady Middleton would speak first. 

Glancing over, I saw Lady Middleton’s complexion turn even paler as she took a step back. 

However, she soon swallowed dryly and, looking at me, managed to speak with difficulty. 

“Hello, Lady Bianca Croft.”

From her strained voice, I understood why she had been slow to greet me. It was the same voice that had mockingly said I could live a glamorous life until my beauty faded. 

The other two quickly followed with their greetings, and I nodded slightly to accept them. 

As I smiled and graciously accepted their greetings, their faces regained some color. Still, they had only gone from pale blue to a slightly less ghastly white. 

“It sounded like you were discussing something quite interesting.” 

When I shifted the topic back to their conversation, their faces turned blue again. 

It was amusing how their complexions changed so easily, as if they were in some kind of coloring game. 

“Did you hear us?” 

Lady Berg stammered, her face still a pale blue. 

“We didn’t mean anything bad. It was just a conversation among ourselves.” 

“Of course, I understand you meant no harm.” 

I smiled sweetly at them. Seeing my smile and hearing my words, they managed to force some semblance of a smile, though still looking somewhat stiff. 

“You were just chirping away like cute little larks, with brains the size of a lark’s as well. Anyone with an actual brain wouldn’t spread such stupid rumors so thoughtlessly.” 

I was the only one still smiling.